Improvement in car-couplings



G. L. WESTERMAN. 81. I. BOUT.

Gar-Couplings.

Patented March 3%, 1874.

W L 4 i i 0 i M am r i W i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD L. WESTERMAN AND ISRAEL ROOT, OF BLQOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

' IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0l14q1725 dated March 31,1874 application filed February 17, 1874.

invented certain Improvements in Oar-Coup lings, of which the followingis a specification:

Our lnvention consists in a novel construction and combination of apivoted latch and levers, for coupling and uncoupling cars, ashereinafter more fully explained.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the draw-head of a car, showingthe coupling devices in the position occupied when the cars are united.Fig. 2 is a similar view, representing the coupling released.

In constructing our coupling, we make the draw-head A with a bell-shapedmouth, as shown in the drawings, with a slot or mortise in both theupper and lower sides. In the lower slot or opening we pivot a two-armedcatch, B, as shown in the drawings. In the upper slot or opening wepivot a lever, to, at tlfe front end, which lever has a projection, n,on its under side, in proper position to engage with the longer arm I)of the latch B when the latter is turned up in the position shown inFig. 1. In the rear end of this upper slot we then pivot another lever,l, and connect it, by a chain, to the rear end of the locking-lever a,the parts being arranged as shown in the drawings, so that when the carsare coupled the lever Z is turned down, and rests upon the locking-levera, and thus preventing the latter frgm being jarred or otherwiseaccidentally loosened.

The parts being thus constructed and arranged, the operation is asfollows: The latch B being in the position represented in Fig. 2,

the link G of the adjoining car is shoved into the mouth of thedraw-head A, and, as it enters, strikes against the arm 6, therebyturning the latch B up into the position represented in Fig. 1, the longarm I) passing up through the link 0, and striking against the inclinedface of the projection a, thereby raising the lever to, so as to permitthe point of the arm I) to pass by and engage against the rear face ofthe projection a, the weight of the levers causing the projection 12 toinstantly drop down and lock the latch securely in place.

- To uncouple the car, it is only necessary to raise the lever l, which,in turn, lifts the lever a and releases the latch, which at once turnsover to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the link 0.

We are aware that the latch B and a locking-lever have before been usedfor this purpose, and we do not, therefore, claim then; but there arespecial advantages in our combination not hitherto shown. It will beseen that, by adding the lever l and connecting the end of lever athereto near the fulcrum of the former, a leverage is obtained whichwill enable a person to release the latch B, even when the train is inmotion or the strain of the car is on the link; and, at the same time,the weight of the lever l, resting upon the locking-lever a, holds itsecurely in place, and prevents the accidental uncoupling of the cars.In this way we produce an automatic coupling that is secure and safe,and that can be operated with ease, and without ever getting between thecars for that purpose.

It is obvious that by connecting a chain or cord, or a rod, to the leverl, it can be operated from the top of a box-car with equal ease."

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- The combinationof the latch B with the locking-lever a and the lever l, all constructedto operate as shown and described.

CONRAD L. VVES'IERMAN. ISRAEL ROOT.

Witnesses as to ISRAEL R001:

H. O. lVILLIAMs, OYRUs FRANK. Witnesses as to CONRAD L. WEsrEaMAN:

G. W. ORCUTT, WM. H. BoWERs.

